Foreword

Firstly, I haven't done any creative writing in nearly 7 years. I'm probably a little rusty so I'd appreciate any useful feedback and criticism you care to provide, it's you guys reading this and anything I can do to improve on that is welcomed. Having read scores of stories over the past few months here on FanFic, I felt compelled to jump in and try my hand at writing and contributing to the FanFic community and really, what better place to start than a BioWare game? A heads up before you read on. I'm going to change a few things that could've happened a little differently due to game constrictions such as the 2 squad member limitation, the lack of various choices for decisions or lack of class design and refinement in ME1/2.

Secondly, I will maintain the overall canon storyline but since I'm focusing on a more fleshed out story to setup for a post ME3 story, rather than the fairly linear and sometimes disorganised story from the game. I may move some events around but what changes I make I'll try to justify with a better narrative. As a result, some people may survive who were killed off throughout the trilogy. With that said, I hope you enjoy what you read!

Disclaimer: All characters and ideas exist within BioWare's Mass Effect universe and belong to BioWare, like everyone else here this just for fun.

Shepard's Legend: The Spectre Legacy

Transport Ship to Arcturus - Present Day

Hero of Elysium, Butcher of Torfan, recipient of the Star of Terra, N7 Graduate... By the age of twenty seven, Lieutenant-Commander Elizabeth Shepard had already become something of a legend within the Systems Alliance. After breaking most of the records set, many of which by her friend and mentor Captain Anderson, she attained her N7 designation with exceptional results. Some had argued that because of her biotic abilities the training should've been harder, perhaps even completely different, to test her sufficiently. But despite the critics, her strength, speed and cunning seemed to surpass all previous expectations and her biotics, while lacking the refined control of an Asari, augmented a cavalier approach to combat. Blending ruthless combat tactics and unbridled biotic power, she proved time and time again that her biotics were a powerful weapon, not something to be feared like most of the old guard in the Alliance.

She was the embodiment of what it meant to be an Alliance N7. Feared on the battlefield while holding the respect of her squads and superiors, even some of the Turians in the Hierarchy had expressed their approval and interest in working alongside her on some of the imminent cross-species initiatives the Council had thrown their support behind. And then there were rumblings that she should have her own command, to step out on her own and start earning the necessary leadership experience to climb the ranks. It didn't matter to her, the only thing that mattered to Lieutenant-Commander Elizabeth Shepard was proving she was more than her reputation and biotics. If her orders meant she'd keep hunting down pirates out in the Traverse then she would, too many saw her as an officer's kid who was given the fast track.

She'd know soon enough away, the day before she'd been informed by her current CO that her time in his unit was coming to an end. The odd part however was that Captain Barnes had no idea to where and under who, only that her transfer was to a posting that would be on a new ship under another Captain. It seemed like a relatively light appointment, much like her previous posting, but at least she'd be back on a ship. She'd been groundside far too long and missed the feeling of roaming through the dark expanses of the galaxy, the feeling probably came from being a spacer kid for most of her early life. Aside from the couple of months she spent with her grandparents on Mindoir and in Alliance facilities between transfers, she'd been on ships from birth till enlistment. Either way, she'd find out soon. She was an hour out of Arcturus Station with orders to report to Admiral Hackett for a briefing.

Briefing Room on Arcturus Station - The Day Before

"Why are we bending over backward to appease the Council? So what if she's the best candidate, it should be our decision who we put forward. She'd be the best operative in the Alliance within a few years and an asset to the Alliance, hell she'll probably force us to create an N8 designation just to show you up Anderson." Rear Admiral Mikhailovich railed at the others gathered in the room.

"Mikhailovich is right." Ambassador Donnel Udina was in support for anything that could forward Humanity on the galactic stage but this would be a concession he was reluctant to give. "She's the best candidate to nominate but she's also our best operative. You know as well as anyone Anderson, soldiers like Shepard come along a handful in a generation and she's still head and shoulders above the rest". Udina paused to think, Humanity's progress was in his hands now and he was adamant that he'd go down as a man who furthered Humanity's cause, not the one who failed to have Humanity recognised as a power.

"We should nominate others, there were a number of viable N7 graduates this year alone. How about Lee Riley? She's not a biotic but her skills as a combat engineer are excellent and by all reports she could hang the Salarians out to dry when it comes to sabotage. Michael Davies has been invaluable in dealing with our anti-piracy operations in the Traverse, he's a combat leader and a true marine to the core. And then there's Gustav Jensen, one of the most proficient adepts we've got." Mikhailovich continued.

"Do you honestly think the Council will accept anyone other than Shepard? She was asked for by name, Nihlus is already on his way here under orders to assess Shepard. Not Riley, not Davies or Jensen", Anderson seethed as he named some of the other notable graduates "Spectres are the elite of the elite, the best of the best are chosen not nominated. If you tell Nihlus when he shows up that you're holding Shepard back from candidacy because you want her to be an exclusively Alliance operative, he might just shoot you for wasting his time. It's bad enough that there's someone pulling strings to keep her running mundane missions against pirates when she should've been given command straight out of the Villa."

That made Udina worry. He was well aware of the extent Spectres were permitted to go in pursuit of the Council's interests and in the name of Galactic peace. And he knew the Council would side with Nihlus over an entire station full of Alliance personnel. Udina knew they were playing with fire and Anderson was willing to drop the torch if it came to it.

Mikhailovich spoke up again, "Screw Nihlus, this should be OUR decision. So what if the Council doesn't get Shepard. We have sufficient candidates suitable for the Spectre position, why should we give up our best? She's going to be under my command aboard that excessive waste of money and if necessary I'll have the Normandy assigned to fleet patrol duty until the Spectres and the Council give up. This is too much to give too quickly."

Admiral Hackett had sat through the meeting with his eyes rolling and head resting on his palm. This argument was a waste of time. It'd taken the Alliance nearly twenty years to produce a candidate who even piqued the interest of the Spectres, never mind the Council, after the last debacle. Hackett could tell Shepard was destined for greatness, but he knew she could do more for Humanity as a whole if she was given the tools, resources and most importantly, freedom, of a Spectre.

"Enough. The same argument against giving Shepard over to the Spectres can be made against keeping her here. The Council want one while we have a dozen notable N7 graduates from the past five years that we can work with. They may never surpass Shepard but we'd have the good will of the Council and it would be one more step towards a council seat, isn't that what you're meant to be pushing for Ambassador? She's a hero and a villain, a ruthless saviour. She represents the best of the Spectre qualities, she would be ideal, the Council knows it, the Spectres know and you know it."

Hackett had to suppress as a smile as Udina's brow furrowed. He'd taken away Mikhailovich's only support in his argument and between the rest of the Admiralty, they could always put pressure on him to comply if he continued to push this agenda. Anderson was far less subtle, he was probably smiling for his friend as much as he was for seeing the way Mikhailovich fume.

"Fine. Do what you will but I will still have that ship in my flotilla when you've finished pandering to the Council, Anderson." and with that Mikhailovich all but stormed out of the briefing room.

"I still don't like the idea of giving away our greatest asset to the Council, it seems to be a poor strategic decision at worst, but I'll make the call and tell them that we're having Shepard brought to Arcturus Station to begin her candidacy assessment. I just hope we don't come to regret this." Udina stood as he sighed and followed Mikhailovich out of the room.

The two veterans were left in the room. Both of them respected Shepard for her leadership potential, she led from the front and never gave any thought about the personal cost of her actions. They both knew Shepard would lead Humanity forward, though how was still an unknown. Whether she'd lead them by example as a Spectre or as an Alliance officer once she'd proven herself as a Spectre, it didn't really matter.

"She'll be proud of her David" Hackett mused. Captain Hannah Shepard was a respectable woman, already proud of her daughter's achievements and this would be the crown jewel of that collection.

"Yeah... she will. It's just it's been so long since they saw each other, the last time was just after Torfan of all places. She pleaded with me to make sure Elizabeth had counselling after that hellhole of a mission, which naturally she refused. If I hadn't managed to convince her to at least talk to someone about it I'm certain she'd have cracked.", Anderson's slowly growing fury was starting to show, his words accompanied by a thinly veiled anger, "I'll be blunt and say I'm worried for her. Nihlus is Saren's protégé and from what little I could find out it was Nihlus himself who put her name forward. Steven, if he tries what Saren pulled I will put a bullet in him and damn the consequences."

"It won't come to that David and we both now if anything seems wrong then Shepard will see herself out of it." chuckled Hackett. If nothing else, Shepard had a remarkable tendency to avoid death, if her performance on Elysium was anything to go by.

Either through luck, determination or sheer presence she'd come back relatively unscathed from all of her missions. Even on Elysium, she'd practically danced around the invaders forces until Alliance forces could secure the city and push back. Shepard had come out with a few scars and a couple of injuries but nothing permanently crippling. Torfan however, she bore the scars of that mission on the inside. Her orders had seen nearly one hundred marines die when the Batarians realised that the invading force had no intention of taking prisoners, she'd bear the guilt of that decision for the rest of her life. The two sat for a few moments contemplating Shepard's future before bidding farewell. Anderson had a ship to oversee and Hackett's attention was pulled back to the Fifth Fleet. The Fifth might be the security detail for Arcturus Station, but most of the Special Ops missions were performed by squads assigned to Fifth Fleet vessels. No rest for the wicked mused Hackett as he left.

Hackett's Office, Arcturus Station - Present Day

"Admiral Hackett, sir." sounded off Shepard as she stood to attention with a crisp salute. Admiral Hackett was a man she, and nearly every other enlisted soldier, could respect on every level. This was a man who served as a role model for all young soldiers, how anyone could rise to the top based on merit.

"At ease, LC," replied Admiral Hackett. He knew he'd have to convince her to see him as a colleague and not just a superior one day, One step at a time he thought. "I'll cut straight to the chase LC, your latest assignment has been confirmed. You're to transfer to the SSV Normandy under the command of Captain Anderson. You're to be his XO as well as command the ground teams."

Shepard had tuned out at Anderson. She was going to be serving under her friend again. Sure she'd served under him for a short while during her N7 training, he was her training officer and taught her just about everything she knew about battlefield tactics and how best to command a squad. She was broken from her reverie by Hackett clearing his throat.

"LC, have anything to ask?" questioned Hackett. He wasn't annoyed, Anderson meant a lot to Shepard but he'd never seen her zone out so completely. "You seemed lost in thought."

"Oh, ah no Admiral. Sorry, what was that after serving under Captain Anderson?" Shepard blurted out sheepishly.

"You're going to be Captain Anderson's XO on the SSV Normandy. It's a joint operation with the Turians. Human and Turian engineers have worked for months on this. I'll let Anderson brief you on the finer points but the ship will function as a scout and reconnaissance vessel."

That seemed wasteful to Shepard. Why would they have worked with the Turians to build a... scout ship? I suppose it's a start, it's not like they'd help us build Dreadnoughts straight away. That also meant she probably wasn't going to see much action under Anderson, at best maybe a couple of excursions to scan enemy positions for intel.

"In addition to this posting you're to be promoted to the rank of Commander, effective immediately. The ship already has an LC in charge of the marine detail." continued Hackett.

Commander Elizabeth Shepard? I wish Mother could be here to see this Shepard thought. She'd always been an excellent soldier but she hadn't really done anything to warrant a promotion, not recently. Most of her assignments under Captain Barnes had been strike operations on smuggling stockpiles and slaver bases, with minimal security or hostile presence. Flawless results but hardly promotion worthy missions.

"Sir, why me? The ground missions Captain Barnes had me run were little more than clean up, surely there are other more deserving of promotion?"

"You may not realise it Commander, but you're going to be the future of the Alliance leadership one day. You've shown time and time again that you're a smart, resourceful and courageous marine, willing to go above and beyond whatever is asked of you without any fear of what might happen. You don't shy away from an order when it's daunting, you don't brush off missions that you consider a waste of time," Hackett held his hand up to interrupt Shepard, "Everyone in the Alliance has been sent on their share of pointless missions, remember I was once like you many years ago. But the difference between you and the rest is you still ensure the job's done to the best of your abilities. That's why you've been chosen for this Shepard."

It hadn't come as a surprise to Shepard that Admiral Hackett has said she would be eventually end up in command, many N7s were given their own commands and the opportunity to advance. Shepard still hadn't been given her own command, she thought that she was only put through the N7 training because of her reputation rather than because she'd earned it. Any marine would've done what she'd done at Elysium and Torfan was hardly a fine example of leadership. She'd expected to make Captain at some point, but being part of the Admiralty was a new thought. "Thank you, Admiral. I'm not going to let the opportunity go to waste."

"I know you wont. That's everything Commander, report to dock thirteen and board the Normandy. Dismissed." Hackett ordered. He knew all the details about the ship, of course, but he'd never been aboard the vessel. It was a small loss but no doubt he'd have the luxury of seeing it first hand at some point.

Arcturus Station

Shepard's trip down the floors to dock thirteen seemed to take a lifetime. She was elated at serving under Anderson again, he was by far the most practical of instructors during her N7 training but more than that, she trusted him on a personal level as well as a superior officer. Anderson was the one who broke down her walls after Torfan and allowed her to see that while sometimes sacrifices are necessary on a mission, grief and vengeance should never drive a decision. Most of the Batarians on Torfan had surrendered and yet she'd ordered her soldiers to take no prisoners anyway. All she could think about were the Grandparents she'd found murdered on Mindoir and the countless colonists who were dragged into slavery as a result of the heartless and malicious bastards.

Shortly before the raids began, they'd been given intel that suggested this was the base of operations for the same group which reportedly sacked Mindoir. While it was incredibly unlikely they'd find any of the colonists after so many years, many of the marines felt that this was as much a mission of vengeance as much it was an attack on any other pirate base. Shepard came back from Torfan expecting a CAT-6 and dishonourable discharge, maybe a court martial for war crimes but instead she was celebrated. Not quite the way she was celebrated for her actions on Elysium but she became a symbol of retribution to the regular rank and file of the Alliance.

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator to the docks her jaw dropped. The Normandy... this is the ship I am going to be serving on? It certainly had a Turian look despite the hull seemingly being much smoother than regular Turian frigates, almost as if the ship was built to slice through whatever obstacles it came across. Beautiful. Shepard stood awestruck for several moments simply staring open-mouthed at the vessel before almost being bowled over by the shambling man she'd shared the elevator with.

"Typical. Why can't people move out of the way and gawp. I swear no one on this station has any consideration." grumbled the figure as he passed Shepard and continued his laboured movement towards the ship.

"Stand to attention soldier." First day of a new command, as much as she felt a little embarrassed for just standing there she couldn't allow herself to be undermined by the crew. Although what capacity he'll serve as is a mystery, maybe he's just a technician working on ship at dock or an engineer.

The shambling man slowly turned and tried to awkwardly stand to a full salute, clearly grimacing with some sort of concealed injury. To his credit, he didn't seem to resent being ordered to do something that made him uncomfortable.

"At ease. We seem to have got off on the wrong foot, I'm Commander Shepard, Captain Anderson's new XO for the Normandy."

This is the Shepard? "Flight-Lieutenant Jeff Moreau, ship's helmsman."

"You're the helmsman? I hope your injury won't be a problem."

Oh, another smart ass officer. Great, because Dillard wasn't enough of a jackass. "Yes ma'am. Signed up for flight school as soon as I could enlist and no, my injury hasn't ever been a problem."

Ever? "Is this your first ship Lieutenant?"

"First time as a lead pilot, yes ma'am."

"Well you seem to have lucked out a little Lieutenant, this is a hell of a ship."

"Yeah... she is."

"Carry on, Lieutenant."

At least she doesn't seem to have a stick up her ass. Strange though, I thought she'd be taller Flight-Lieutenant Moreau mused as he turned and continued his pained trek towards the ship. He'd been on and off the Normandy dozens of times but the feeling that he was boarding his ship never got old. Commander Shepard was right, the Normandy was special and he knew with him at the helm that he could really bring the best out of her.

Shepard took in a last look at the Normandy before checking in with the crew dealing with last minute supplies, at this point most of the supplies looked like they had already been loaded up including the bulky form of a M35 Mako. God I'm looking forward to taking that out, sometimes biotically charging into people just isn't satisfying enough, hopefully I can talk Anderson into some drills.

Moving up from the cargo bay, Shepard hit the comms button "This is Commander Shepard, requesting permission to come aboard."

"Navigator Pressly, permission granted. Welcome aboard, Commander." a gruff yet distinctly military voice replied. Shepard's eventful journey was about to begin.

CIC and Command Bridge - Normandy

Commander Shepard is aboard. Navigator Pressly stands relieved.

Alien. That was all Shepard could describe the layout of the Command Deck as. When Hackett said the Turians had helped build the Normandy, I thought they would've contributed systems or weapons technology, not renovated the interior. The interior was as sleek as the hull and it definitely didn't feel like a regular Alliance ship. This would no doubt take some getting used to but Shepard was confident she'd know every inch of the ship by the end of the week, moving from ship to ship had instilled that behaviour in Shepard from a young age.

Shepard's eyes darted around the deck and noted the officers in the room though the figure of Anderson wasn't one of them. Striding confidently over to the most senior looking officer, a grey and balding man discussing engine outputs with an engineer a few years younger, Shepard spoke in clear, yet commanding, manner.

"Navigator Pressly?"

The older man stood to attention and snapped out a salute.

"Yes ma'am."

"At ease. I'm looking for Captain Anderson."

"Captain Anderson is currently in the communications room discussing our orders. I wouldn't disturb them."

"Them?"

"Yeah, the Captain has a Turian with him. He's supposedly some big shot sent by the council. I don't trust aliens and I especially don't trust the Turians. It wasn't even thirty years ago we were trying to kill each other."

"Pressly that was a long time ago. Isn't the purpose of this ship to help move past that?"

Wonderful. I knew I'd regret taking this posting. I'm bypassed by some upstart who got lucky and coasts on reputation. And worse still she's sympathetic towards aliens. Maybe I should just resign. No doubt this ship'll end up being a galactic circus in no time. "I guess, but my family fought in the First Contact War. Both my father and grandfather fought at Shanxi."

"My Parents fought during First Contact, Anderson fought during First Contact. It's a tragedy to lose loved ones in war but we all sign up for that when we enlist."

But your parents weren't killed defending civilians, were they? "I suppose ma'am. Anyway, the Captain shouldn't be long. I'll pass word that you've come aboard when he's finished with his briefing. I'm sure you have other things to attend to ma'am."

"Sounds like a plan, Pressly, carry on." She dismissed Pressly and took in another look at the bridge again.

Shepard proceeded through the doors and headed down to the mess hall, looking to get to know her teams. Despite the ship still being in dock for another day the mess hell was empty, there were only two people on the deck at all and they were busy in the medbay. Realising she might as well get check in with the Doctor before they left, Shepard headed in their direction looking to introduce herself and get the mandatory fit-for-duty checkup over and done with.

"Look Doc I'm fine. All I have is a mild headache." claimed the young man with a hint of a Canadian accent currently undergoing a thorough scan.

"So you've said but I'm seeing readings which say otherwise. Are you going to be honest with me or do I have to force you to go through the more rigorous tests?" replied a a stern British voice.

"Fine, I've got another migraine. It's nothing more than usual and I'll put up with it like I have done for years. It's nothing to worry about Doc."

"Hmm, well we'll keep an eye on it. If it persists without medication we'll look at what we can do. This one seems to be worse than usual."

"Yeah, it's probably just the stress of working the marines into shape. I'm sure it'll ease up once we're under way and we've had a chance to settle down into a proper routine. Speaking of Doc, it looks like you've got another victim to deal with," The man leapt out of the cot and stood to attention "Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, ma'am."

While reciprocating the gesture "Commander Shepard, at ease Alenko". Both relaxed into a relaxed pose "Migraines from training Alenko? That's new. Usually the complaints I hear as muscle aches and back pain."

"Yeah, I hear you. It's mostly my L2 implants ma'am. Too much work strains them harder than L3's. I might be able to outdo a L3 in the short term but I'd feel like someone took an axe and went to work on my skull over a long haul."

"Didn't expect to see another biotic aboard. Since you're an L2 I guess you were exposed a while back? L3 myself."

"Something like that, I was exposed while my Mom was pregnant. Got lucky then I guess, only one in ten manifested stable biotics and manage to avoid terminal cancerous growths. Since L3's weren't developed until a few years ago, did you have them replaced or were you exposed later?"

"I was exposed a second time when I was fourteen, was exposed in utero but I didn't manifest biotics before that. I managed to stay under the radar while I was my Mother's ship until I was seventeen but something happened and I was detected. I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with biotics when growing up, I'm pretty sure I'd have been confined to a brig or sent groundside for the crews safety."

"Spacer kid? Lucky. I was born on Earth and shipped off to brain camp when I was fourteen".

"Shit, so you grew up without training? And then you were sent to Jump Zero? I've heard Gagaarin was a nightmare, I'm sorry you had to go through that Alenko."

"Yeah, the place was a new type of hell for all the kids sent there," Kaidan let out a quiet sigh. Jump Zero was infamous yet the stories he'd heard paled in comparison to the truth "Well, I'm gonna go and check on the marines. I'll be back later Doc, see you around Commander". The mild mannered Canadian saluted and left, leaving the matronly British doctor and the Commander alone.

"Well Elizabeth, let's get the checkup done with. No doubt you've got other places to be."

"I have to admit, I didn't think I'd see you here Karin. How's my mother?" Shepard grinned as she leapt up onto the cot Alenko had just vacated.

"Still shouting and scaring the Ensigns. I pity the poor souls who happen to get saddled with Hannah as a Captain when she gets her own ship. As for me being here, Captain Anderson hand picked the entire crew and I got the invite to fill the role of Chief Medical Officer. You mother didn't appreciate him poaching me but when he mentioned he planned to request you as the XO she just about tried to throw me out of my own medbay."

Shepard chuckled at the thought, "It's good to know she's alright, she's been a Captain for years now and she's still not been given her own command. Sure an XO of a Dreadnought is prestigious but she's always said she wanted to have her own ship someday."

"If the gossip in the officer's mess on Arcturus is anything to go by, that might be happening soon. The Normandy might be a one-of but the Alliance is meant to be running out a line of newer vessels, the plans are there but we're limited by the Treaty of Farixen. Supposedly there's negotiations about building more Dreadnoughts to rotate out but that's skirting a fine line."

"I'm actually more surprised that we even opted for negotiation first, I expected us to build them first and then ask for forgiveness." Shepard shook her head at the thought. It took the Asari and Salarian governments warning the Alliance that the Turians would continue their efforts before enough of the Admiralty and Parliament finally saw reason and agreed to join the Galactic community. While the leadership from thirty years ago had been changed, many throughout Humanity's leadership had voiced their disagreement with the constricting Treaty. That there hadn't been a concentrated attempt at exceeding the Treaty already was a small miracle by itself.

"But what about you, Elizabeth? According to Hannah you haven't sent so much as a note for months. Any exciting tales to tell?" inquired Chakwas.

"Absolutely none at all, I finished my N7 training and then I was shifted around doing glorified clean up work in the Traverse. It's been easy and I've done it well but it's not what I imagined I'd be doing after graduating. The last assignment I was on ended up without a shot fire, it turned out the pirates left a large concentration of empty storage crates and deactivated mechs as bait while they tried to move their main haul. It's become a running joke between my class, I had no issues with the N7 training, had the best results for most tests and yet I'm the one with the second rate missions. I didn't bother telling my mother how badly my careers' gone, especially when she's always been the one pushing me forward." Shepard grimaced as she spoke.

"Well, at least that looks like it's going to change. Anderson always ends up kicking a hornet's nest."

The pair continued to catch up while going through the mandatory health inspection and checkups and eventually Shepard emerged from the medbay just in time to see hear Anderson's voice on the intercom, "Commander Shepard, report to my cabin." At least she would have the opportunity to ask Anderson what his meeting was about.